Creative director of Focus Group West, Blake launched his highly anticipated line in Paris, in the Autumn of 2014, with a collection is wonderfully original. His pieces are expertly made in Japan (2 months for the lamination process alone), using top-quality metals, resins and other superb materials, and are now sold within 100 shops, worldwide. And what can be discovered is a collection built on a “frame within a frame” concept, and one that creates a dimensional, if not irresistible stir, as the eyes appreciate the sculptural aspect, colour, artistry.
Originally inspired by a classic piece, an antique Chinese elm stool that is embodied in lucite, Kuwahara has translated the idea of containment to his eyewear, giving it a new and fresh feel—ever focused on the precision of creation and end consumer. So much so, that about 50 percent of his production is lost due to his incredibly high standards. And though he has been designing for over 20 years, Blake retains that he was originally compelled to create eyewear primarily driven by aesthetics and selfishness—not so unlike many of the greats. “It was done to fulfill my own design needs and that of my circle that live in a very visual world: artists, filmmakers, architects, fashionistas, and designers of all sorts.”
Having a doctorate of Optometry at Berkeley, his interest in the arts (both his grandmother and mother being artists) compiled with desire, study and a keen eye have produced a creative so powerful. In fact, Blake was recently named by Brilliant Magazine as one of the “100 Most Important People in the Eyewear Industry”.
For it is not an easy feat, combining two different shapes and materials, but his efforts for a seamless fusion are so evident. And when heart and hand work in tandem, there is certainly something special that results, and that is wherein the magic lies. There is a warmth and eclectic flavour that he embodies in dress but also within his home. Found flea market oddities, art, and layers of furnishings lend to a greater understanding of Blake’s world: contrasts in classicism and modernity, yet abash from sterility. “A paradox.” He says, “Like me.”
